Setback for Hammam as Africa goes for Blatter in Fifa vote

JOHANNESBURG // The African football body has formally endorsed Sepp Blatter for another four-year term at the helm of Fifa, delivering a severe blow to the hopes of his Qatari challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said its executive committee, at a meeting in Cairo on Monday, had held a secret ballot and passed a motion to support Blatter in the Zurich election on June 1.

"Following a secret ballot, the CAF executive committee voted in the majority to support the incumbent," a brief statement from Cairo said.

The 75-year-old Swiss has now secured the backing of four of the six confederations that make up worldfootball's governing body.